Skyfall
The London Evening Standard unveils the shortlist for its British Film Awards for 2012, in association with London Film Museum and supported by Moët & Chandon.
From established film luminaries to the most exciting rising talent, the shortlist for the 2012 London Evening Standard British Film Awards puts the spotlight on a dazzling year for British cinema.
This year’s winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony at the London Film Museum on Monday 4th February, presented by Stephen Mangan.
It’s been a huge year for British cinema, with Skyfall, the latest addition to the James Bond legacy becoming the highest grossing British film of all time during Bond’s 50th anniversary.
Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, is nominated for Film of the Year - which is the first time a Bond film has been considered for this category. In 2002 it received a London Evening Standard Special Award for 40 years of James Bond.
Skyfall is up against Peter Strickland’s psychological drama, Berberian Sound Studio, and Ben Wheatley’s black comedy, Sightseers, for Film of the Year.
Triple nominee Berberian Sound Studio is the second feature film by British director and screenwriter Peter Strickland, and Ben Wheatley previously directed Down Terrace and the Kill List.
In a heavyweight year for British male acting talent, the Best Actor category sees established Method actor Daniel Day-Lewis and man-of-the-moment Eddie Redmayne go head to head with their 19th century epics - Lincoln and Les Misérables.
Day-Lewis’ portrayal of the US president credited with taking the first step to abolishing slavery and Redmayne’s portrayal of Marius, the lovelorn French revolutionary, are up against Toby Jones for his role of a British sound designer in the homage to 1970s Italian horror, Berberian Sound Studio.
The Best Actress category sees Andrea Riseborough’s portrayal of the IRA terrorist in Shadow Dancer and Charlotte Rampling’s femme fatale role in I, Anna compete against Alice Lowe’s performance in Sightseers.
Lowe’s performance in the road-trip black comedy is her first leading film role. She previously appeared in Hot Fuzz and series including Little Britain, The Mighty Boosh and The IT Crowd.
The Peter Sellers Award for Comedy sees another nomination for Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers as well a nod to Chris O’Dowd for his performance in The Sapphires and a nomination for writer / director Martin McDonagh with Seven Psychopaths.
The Best Screenplay category sees ITN’s Political Editor and novelist, Tom Bradby, nominated for Shadow Dancer alongside Malcolm Campbell for his Irish suspense drama, What Richard Did, and Paul Laverty for the Scottish comedy-drama, The Angels’ Share. Bradby makes his screenplay debut in adapting his own novel, Shadow Dancer, which is set in 1990s Belfast
Championing home-grown talent, the London Evening Standard’s Most Promising Newcomer category also sees Paul Brannigan nominated for his performance in Angels’ Share. My Brother the Devil, a film about gun crime and sexuality, produces two newcomer contenders in writer/director Sally El Hosaini and her acting star James Floyd.
In addition to the eight shortlisted awards, one other award will be presented on the night. This is the Blockbuster of the Year voted for via an online public vote on Standard.co.uk.
Sarah Sands, Editor of the London Evening Standard, said: "This is the 40th year that the Standard has supported British film and turned the spotlight on British creativity with these awards - and what a year to celebrate.
"What is, after all, our local industry may be small by Hollywood’s reckoning, but its ambitions are global in scope and achievements boundless, delivering a record-breaking Bond next to a musical sensation and covering all bases in between."
London Evening Standard British Film Awards 2013 Shortlist:
- Film of the Year
Berberian Sound Studio Directed By Peter Strickland
Sightseers Directed by Ben Wheatley
Skyfall Directed by Sam Mendes
- Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis Lincoln
Toby Jones Berberian Sound Studio
Eddie Redmayne Les Misérables
- Best Actress
Alice Lowe Sightseers
Charlotte Rampling I, Anna
Andrea Riseborough Shadow Dancer
- Best Screenplay
Tom Bradby Shadow Dancer
Malcolm Campbell What Richard Did
Paul Laverty The Angels’ Share
- London Film Museum Award for Technical Achievement
Jacqueline Durran (Costume design), Sarah Greenwood (Production design), Seamus McGarvey (Cinematography) - All jointly for Anna Karenina
David Raedeker Cinematography My Brother the Devil
Ben Richardson Cinematography Beasts of the Southern Wild
- Peter Sellers Award for Comedy
Chris O’Dowd For his performance in The Sapphires
Martin McDonagh Writer / Director for Seven Psychopaths
Ben Wheatley Sightseers - Director
- Most Promising Newcomer
Paul Brannigan For his performance in The Angels’ Share
Sally El Hosaini Writer / Director My Brother the Devil
James Floyd Performance My Brother the Devil
- Best Documentary
The Imposter Bart Layton
London: The Modern Babylon Julien Temple
Marley Kevin Macdonald
Tagged in James Bond Daniel Day-Lewis Eddie Redmayne